Power-driven cutting machine for pavements and the like



March 30, 1954 N. C. COATES POWER-DRIVEN CUTTING MACHINE FOR PAVEMENTSAND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 21, 1950 INVENTOR. A/e/(q/r C. wafes figzig 4TTORNE Patented Mar. 30, 1954 POWER-DRIVEN CUTTING MACHINE FOR PAVEMENTSAND THE LIKE Neligh C. Coates, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to ConcreteSaw Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri ApplicationAugust 21, 1950, Serial No. 180,592

Claims. 1

This invention has to do with an assembly particularly adapted to cutkerfs in road surfaces or the like, the primary object being to providean adjustable, power driven, rotary cutting element having a mobilesupport so arranged as to minimize the binding of the cutter within thekerf occasioned by movement of the assembly over uneven terrain beingout.

It is the most important object of the present invention to provide acutter for road surfaces and the like that includes a swingablecutterhead mounted on a mobile platform having a number of wheels tosupport the same with one of the wheel and axle assemblies swingablysecured to the platform to compensate for uneven terrain and therebyreduce the amount of bind between the cutter itself and the kerf beingout, and further, for the purpose of facilitating manual handling of theapparatus as the same is pushed along or otherwise motivated and guidedto cut on a straight line.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a cuttingassembly having a mobile platform, together with a frame swingable onthe platform, the frame carrying a rotatable cutter and a prime moverfor the latter, all movable as a unit as the frame is swung, to vary theheight of the cutter blade and therefore, the depth of the slot beingout.

Other objects of this invention include the way in which the entireassembly is rendered adaptable for automatic guiding along a straightline; the way in which manually operable means is provided for theswingable cutter-head to vary the depth of the out; and the details ofconstruction relating not only to the above-mentioned pivotal connectionbetween one of the wheel and axle assemblies of the support, but to themanner of adjustably mounting the auxiliary frame or cutter-head uponthe platform-like support.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a power driven cutting machinefor pavements and the like, made according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational View thereof, parts beingbroken away and in section for clearness.

Fig. 3 is a detailed, sectional view of a portion of the manual controlfor the swingable cutterhead; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a modified form of a wheel and axleassembly.

A suitable support for the component parts of the power driven cuttingmachine hereof, preferably takes the form of a flat, horizontal plat- 29and 22 thereon. The forwardmost assembly.

It includes an elongated shaft 24 having wheels 26 and 28 rotatablysecured thereto.

The shaft or axle 24 passes through a tube 30 that is, in turn, rigidlyconnected with a transverse tubular member 32 midway between the ends ofthe axle 24. A short stub shaft 34 secured to the lowermost face ofplatform 10 projects through the forwardmost flange l2 and through thetubular member 32 for rotatably mounting the latter and thereby servingas the sole means of interconnection between assembly 16 and theplatform l9.

The platform H) has a pair of spaced-apart upstanding bearings 36 on theuppermost face thereof for rotatably receiving a shaft 38 that spans thedistance between the bearings 36. Shaft 38 intersects an elongatedauxiliary frame 40 intermediate the ends of the latter and is preferablyits uppermost face adjacent that end thereof opposite to the housing 42and directly above the shaft 38 for an internal combustion engine 52 orother prime mover such as an electric motor. The drive shaft 54 of primemover 52 has a pulley 56 thereon, and an endless belt or the like 58 istrained over sheave 48 and pulley 56, thereby operably connecting primemover 52 with the rotatable cutting disc 46. shape of base 50, the primemover is supported in a normal upright condition when the cutter disc 46is lowered from the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 to a cuttingposition as hereinafter to be made more clear.

A pair of spaced-apart, U-shaped handle bars 60 are secured to the sideflanges l2 of platform v between by a pair of pintles iii. The block 68is By virtue of the wedge internally tapped for receiving anexternallythreaded, elongated rod I2 that passes through an opening I4in the bracket 65 and has a crank arm 16 on the uppermost end thereof.The rod I2 depends from the bracket 64 and passes loosely through aperforated block I8 that is, in turn, pivotally secured between a pairof furcations extending outwardly from that end of the frame 46 oppositeto disc 46, one only of such furcations being illustrated and designatedby the numeral 86. Each furcation is provided with a pintle 82 forpivotally mounting the block 18 in the same manner as illustrated inFig. 3, with respect to the block 68. Downward movement of the rod 12with respect to block I8 is limited by means of a nut or collar 84, anda spring 66 coiled about the rod I2 is interposed between block I8 and anut 88 on the lower-most end of rod '12.

Means for holding the rod "I2 and parts associated therewith in aselected position to govern the depth of cut includes a split tube 96circumscribing the rod 12 having a pair of spaced-apart,laterally-projecting ears 92 which receive a clamping element 94 capableof contracting the tube 96 into and out of gripping relationship to rodI2 when element 94 is tightened.

A scale 95 formed on rod I2 has indicia thereon to guide the operator insetting tube 96 for stopping engagement with block 68 when cutter 46reaches the desired depth in response to manual I manipulation of crankarm 16. The tube 66 is set to hold cutter 46 in an elevated position inFig. 1. When a out having a depth of two inches, for example, is to bemade, the tube 96 is adjusted along rod I2 to have its lower end inregister with the two inch designation on scale 95. Thus, when arm I6has been turned to draw rod l2 upwardly, allowing cutter 46 to lower toa place where tube 96 is against block 68, the cutter cannot be loweredfurther; and the cut is of a depth indicated on scale 95.

An arcuate fender or guard I64 is provided on the frame 46 for the disc46 in overlying relationship to the latter, said guard I64 having aremovable section I06. Section I66 is removed when the forward or frontportion of the cutter 46 is to be moved against the wall, curbing orother vertical structure.

Fluids such as liquid coolants may be directed to the cutter disc 46through the medium of a line I68 registering with guard I64 and having amanually-operable valve H6 interposed therein and mounted on the bracket64. An arm 96 extending forwardly from clevice I65 is supported at itsoutermost end by caster wheel 98, and the pointer I66 is pivotallysecured thereto. An L- shaped pointer I62 is, also, pivotally carried bythe platform I6 at the rearmost edge thereof as at I03.

Both pointers I66 and I62 may be swung to an inoperative position abouttheir respective mountings when the machine is not in use. These saidpointers are in alignment with cutter 46 and such distances forwardlyand rearwardly therefrom as to assure accuracy of cut and a minimumamount of binding.

During normal use, the entire assembly is moved forwardly by an operatorgrasping the handle bars 66 and directing his weight against the arcuatesurface on intermediate tie member 6I. Pointers I66 and I62 aremaintained on a preformed line on the surface to be cut. The depth ofthe cut is determined by swinging of the frame 46, together with thecutter 46 and the prime mover 52 thereon as a unit about the axis 4 ofthe shaft 38, which swinging movement is controlled by the rotation ofrod 12 in block 68.

After the operator has lowered the cutter blade 46 from that illustratedin Figs. 1 and 2 by manipulation of crank arm I6 to a cutting position,the rod I2 is prevented from further rotation and longitudinal movementin one direction by the tube 86 which has been set as above explained.As the cutter blade 46 is caused to rotate by prime mover 52, anyrelatively hard obstruction within the path of travel of the cutterblade 46 tending to cause the latter to rise above its adjusted, setposition will be compensated for by the sliding movement of block "I8 onrod 12 against the action of spring 86.

Irrespective of the advantages of a three-point mobile support forplatform II), the four wheels 26, 22, 26 and 28 have been provided so asto facilitate the guiding of the assembly by the operator along astraight line. In other words, at all times, irrespective of theunevenness of the surface being traversed, the platform I6 and all partsmounted thereon are supported at four points; and such is made possiblebecause of the pivotal connection between tube 30 of axle 24 and theshaft 34 of platform I6.

The apparatus is further rendered highly maneuverable by virtue of thefact that the operator may raise or lower the disc 46 while the primemover 52 continues in operation by simply bearing downwardly upon thehandle bars 66 and member BI and pivoting the platform ID on axle It. Inview of the fact that the wheel and axle assembly i6 is relatively closeto the cutting disc 46, binding of the latter in the kerf being formedwill be prevented when the wheels 26 and 28 enter a cavity or pass overa rise in the pavement being cut. Since the operator has more controlover the rear wheel and axle assembly than that of the assembly I6, hecan prevent such binding of the disc 46 as the same becomes necessarywhen one of the rear wheels rises or falls.

The machine above described may be used with a pair of tracks H2 whenslightly modified as illustrated in Fig. 4 when it is desirable topositively guide the assembly in its forward movement along a straightpath of travel. Tracks I I2 are L-shaped in cross-section, and thehorizontal flanges thereof serve as a support for the wheels ofassemblies I4 and I6. Additionally, one end of each axle I8 and 24respectively is provided with a sheave I I4 that is guided along theuppermost edge of the upright flange of one of tracks H2 and which mayor may not ride upon such edge, as shown in Fig. 4.

The tracks H2 may be interconnected or anchored to the pavement beingcut in any suitable and well-known manner to prevent movement out ofrelation with the line of cut therebetween.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for cutting pavement or the like, said machine comprising aplatform; a frame; a cutter rotatably carried by the frame; a primemover on the frame operably coupled with said cutter; means mounting theframe on the platform for swinging movement on an axis parallel with theaxis of rotation of the cutter, with the cutter disposed forwardly ofthe platform and therebeyond; a rear wheel and aXle assembly includingan axle secured to said platform in parallelism with said axis ofrotation and having a pair of wheels; a front wheel and axle assemblyincluding an axle normally parallel with said axis of rotation andhaving a pair of wheels; a front axle support on the platform forswinging movement of the front axle with respect thereto on an axisparallel with the normal path of travel of the machine, said four wheelsproviding a four-point support for the machine, said rear wheels andsaid front axle support providing a three-point mounting for theplatform, whereby to minimize binding of the cutter in the pavement asthe machine is moved therealong, during cutting and when the pavement isuneven; and structure interconnecting the frame and the platform forvarying the depth of cut.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said structure includes anextensible member extending upwardly from the frame at one end thereofremote from the cutter, and means on the platform for mounting theuppermost end of said member, said axis of swinging movement of theframe being intermediate the ends of the latter.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said axis of swingingmovement of the frame is above the platform and said axles, in avertical plane disposed between the axles and parallel thereto.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said axis of swingingmovement of the front axle is parallel to and substantially in alignmentwith the plane of rotation of the cutter.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 4, wherein said axis of swingingmovement of the front axle is intermediate between the wheels of thefront assembly.

NELIGI-I C. COATES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 333,436 Wright Dec. 29, 1885 892,056 Jackson June 30, 19081,090,646 Perkins Mar. 17, 1914 1,709,422 Wright Apr. 16, 1929 1,851,866Quinan Mar. 29, 1932 2,051,694 Fishleigh Aug. 18, 1936 2,468,336 LewisApr. 26, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 60,501 Norway Feb. 27,1939 125,951 Great Britain Mar. 10, 1921

